The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19
TOTAL ABSTINENCE.

We can do just what the Bible recon-
mends: Look not upon the wine," or any
beverage containing alcohol, much less use
it. We can totally abstain from the use of
everything that will intoxicate. We ought to
do this for our own sakes, that we may surely
not become drunkards; for the sake of those
who may be influenced by US, that they may
be safe, or at least not led by US and our ex-
ample into temptation. The ground of cur
obligation to do this is our relation to hu-
mainly as the children of GoD. We ought
not to deface the moral image of our father,
nor to debase the spiritual nature He has
given us, by drunkenness or any form of ex-
cessive sensual indulgence. No one who in
dulges his appetite for alcoholic drinks can
be sure that he will not become drunkard
Indulgence increases the appetite, and weak
ems the power of the will to resist its de-
mands. Wine and beer are only less power
full in their effects than distilled liquors
brandy, whisky, rum, ETC., but are equally
dangerous and tempting. The way to be safe
in temptation is never to feel secure. We
ought to be exemplary among our brethren,
and to be careful that we do not cause a
weaker brother to stumble by our bad exam
pie.
Not only our physical welfare is at stake,
but our Christian character; our character as
servants Of CHRIST and children of GOD. It
is marvellous to us that any who profess to
be Christians will, for the sake of self-indul-
gence, drink wine or some cognate liquor,
and thus throw away their moral influence!
k,cir UaIu
bis life that we might live does not know
them. st. Paul has no fellowship with them;
for did he not say, SIT is good neither to eat
flesh Iidolatrously consecrated nor to drink
wine, nor anything whereby thy brother
stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak"
(Romans xiv. 21)?-Dr. DeDlorest. - ss
We can teach the children of our Sunday
schools the evils of intemperance and the
danger of even The occasional and moderate
use of whatever will intoxicate. We can
teach them that alcohol is poison and de-
scribe to them its dreadful effects directly
upon the physical constitution, and indirect
ly, but none the less damaging, upon the
moral nature, and that these effects surely
follow, even when it is used as medicine.
We can insist that the nature of alcohol and
its effects upon the human system shall be
fully and faithfully taught in our public
schools. We can recommend the pledge of
Total Abstinence to all whom we may in any
way influence by our precept and example.
We can and ought to be active in our infu-
ence and labors for the promotion of tenn
perance and the suppression of the drink
traffic, SO tempting to the young and care
less, as we'll as to the depraved, and is the
school of drunkenness with all its attendant
crimes and miseries. The Sunday school
and church ought to be Temperance Socie-
ties, and in alliance with all workers in the
great temperance movements of the day.
1t 1.-THE church can make special applica-
ton of Christian principles to the sin, vice,
crime and shame of drunkenness. 1t can,
through its constituents, set the example of
perfect sobriety, of entire abstinence from
the drunkard's drink, of misunderstanding
all kinds of business which minister for
gain to the drinking habit, of voting and in
huencing the votes of the community against
the liberation of the drinking saloons, of ad-
yancing public sentiment so that in due time
the habits ana laws of the people shall be
conformed 10 perfect sobriety of life. In
this work the Sunday school may efficiently
join; while at the same time the standard of
Christian morals may be kept at the front,
and education cover the entire ground of
holy living.-Dr. Den1arest, Helper, June,
1888